The Hills, Minnesota, 125th Anniversary Celebration weekend is filled with events and activities for all ages.
Following is a listing of events and activities, all of which are intended to help community members celebrate the Hills’ annual Friendship Days in addition to the quasquicentennial.
•Raffle tickets are on sale for a commemorative 125th Henry Lever. 22 rifle engraved with the Hills logo. The gun is being displayed at the Hills City Office. A limited number of 200 tickets will be sold at $20 per ticket and are available at the Hills City Offices, Elbers Auction, Exchange State Bank of Hills and Orv’s. You need not be present to win.
•T-shirts commemorating our 125th anniversary are being sold for $10 and can be purchased at Hills City Offices. Dennis Boese designed the winning logo for the shirts.
•Hills memorabilia will be displayed at Hills City Office Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The display will include the Hills Centennial Quilt dated 1890 -1990. Bob Hellerud and Faith DeBoer will be sharing their memorabilia. DeBoer’s collection includes salt and pepper shakers from Herman Van Engelenhoven, owner of Herman’s Service, which is now Erwin’s Service.
•Kitchen Fire Safety Trailer – demonstrations throughout the day at Hills Area Fire Department.
The Kitchen Fire Safety Trailer is a classroom with a working stovetop for live demonstrations. The trailer was made possible through a grant from Minnesota Fair Plan, the Minnesota State Fair Fire Chiefs Association.
Friday, June 12
•Four-Person Best Ball Golf tournament at Larchwood Golf Course begins with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Meal will be served at noon. Spectators are welcome. The noon meal is only for those who have signed up.
•Border League softball games at Hills softball field begin at 6:30 p.m. The first game features Beaver Creek vs. Rock Rapids, and the second game is Hills vs. Steen. Concessions will be provided by Helping Build Communities Stronger.
Saturday, June 13
•FFA Alumni Pancake Breakfast will be served from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Hills American Legion. On the menu are pancakes, sausage and gravy.
•A 5 K Fun Run and Walk for all ages will begin at 8 a.m. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The event is sponsored by Around the Clock Fitness. Contact Donna and Stacen Burgers at burgers@alliancecom.net.
•Bean Bag Tournament starts at 9:30 a.m. near the Hills Veterans Memorial. Participants must be at least 16 years old to participate. Contact Keith Elbers, 962-3433, or Alan Leenderts, 605-201-1580, for more information and to register. Cost is $10 per team.
•A “Meet and Greet” is from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hills-Beaver Creek High School for all H-BC alumni and their families and friends. Cookies and lemonade will be served. Contact Marilyn Nelson with questions.
• Farm Tractor and Machinery Show will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on West Third Street. Contact Greg Leenderts with question.
•“Days of the Past” Parade will be at 3 p.m. on Main Street. Wendell Erickson will be the grand marshal. The parade will also include representatives from former businesses in Hills. Parade participants are asked to line up starting at 2 p.m. by the softball field. The parade route will be the same as previous years going past the Tuff Memorial Home and ending on Main Street. Contact Marilyn Nelson with questions.
•A community meal will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. on Main Street. The menu includes steak, potato, vegetable, dinner roll and a beverage. Tickets in advance are $15; at the door cost is $18. Kids’ meals of hamburger or hot dog are available for $5. No pre-tickets are needed for kids’ meals. To observe Wendell Erickson’s 90th birthday celebration, cake will be served starting at 5:30 p.m.
•A street dance with music by Neo Johnson’s Classic Rock will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Main Street in Hills. Cost before 7 p.m. is $5. Cover charge is $7 after 7 p.m.
•Kiddie Tractor Pull will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Main Street.
Ages are 3 years old to 10 years of age. Trophies and ribbons for participating will be awarded. Contact Greg Leenderts with questions.
•Food vendors will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rauk’s will be at the softball field, the Cattlemen’s and Corn Growers associations will be on Main Street, and the Hills Christian School will have concessions at the park.
•Kids Activities at Hills Softball Field will be 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring jump tents (sponsored by New Vision Coop), a ferris wheel and train rides. Cost to enter is $5 per child with a $15 max per family.
•Arts In The Park Vendor Fair will start at 11 a.m. in Jacobson Park. Vendors participating so far include: Bev’s Doll Clothes, Tastefully Simple, Juice Plus/Tower Garden, Katie’s Joy (Blankets), Pampered Chef, Thifty Thrivers, It Works, Valocity Studios & Jamberry Nails, Material Gals (aprons, etc.) Young Living Essential Oils, Plexxus, Norwex, Xyngular, Oragami Owl, Leanne Maciejack Designs (jewelry), Baby Blankets (by Marilyn), Younique, Tupperware, Needles to Nails, 18-inch doll clothes and miscellaneous, Fantasy Face Paint and Quilts, Blankets Crafts and Wood. Contact Valerie Meinerts with questions.
•Music at the Park will be from noon to 2 p.m. with Bum Steers performing.
Members of the group include Mark Richards from Steen and Lonny Ackerman from Beaver Creek.
•Movie Night featuring “SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” will be at dusk (about 9:30 p.m.) at Jacobson Park. Bring chairs. Free admission to all. Concession proceeds will go to the HBC-PTO. The event is sponsored by HBC PTO, HBCS and Coca-Cola.
Sunday, June 14
•A Community Church Service will be at 10 a.m. in the Hills-Beaver Creek High School in Hills. The speaker is Tom Goehle and music will provided by Dan and Allie LaRock, Clint Roozeboom and Kendra Doerr.
the hills 125th town celebration is set for june 11, 12 and 13
By
Glenda McGaffee